Back again with another chapter for you guys and it's time to find out what's going to happen within the structure of GJSDF or rather the soldiers. Also just a forewarning because I know someone will say this. I know the original 1954 Godzilla wasn't 100 meters, he was in fact 50 meters tall but for the purpose of this story I have altered his height. Ahem, I'm bad at author notes sometimes so if you'll please excuse that we can get back to the story that I'm sure has enraptured your mind as you are this far in. With that being said let's get into it.
I do not own any of these characters in this fanfiction. All monsters are property of Toho and all Kim Possible characters are property of Disney. I do however own Destiny Go and Tiara Josephine Lockheart. Jacob Matthews belongs to Raptorhunter18.
Ch. 17 Different Perspectives
July 28, 2017 GJSDF HQ 3:56 p.m.
Jacob was walking down the halls of the self defense force. He was making his way towards Destiny's room as he had just gotten through doing rifle practice with the first years and while they were making considerable progress none of them showed promise to pilot a Mecha. It has been a week since Betty charged him with the task of finding Shego a compatible partner. He tried asking Yori but she expressed her disapproval of the subject stating that her and Shego operated on different spectrums and would cause an imbalance. The reason why Jacob was having such a hard time with finding Shego someone compatible was because of how Kiryu was designed.
Kiryu at face value operates like any other Mecha. Most Mechas need at the minimum two pilots with the max so far being Mechagodzilla II of Japan needing four pilots. Mechas require the soldiers that operate to control specific functions or parts of the mecha during operation. Kiryu however only required two pilots and two pilots only. That reason being is because Kiryu was designed around the skeleton of the original Godzilla from 1954. The original Godzilla stood around one hundred meters. Despite sixty years having passed there was still residual radioactive energy around his skeleton and Kiryu was built to harness that energy, bolstering the firepower of the Mechas arsenal but at the same time shortening it's deployment on the battlefield as Kiryu has a battery life of at least two hours. The time limit shortens when it uses its energy based weapons like the built in maser sword, or triple maser beam it can fire from its chest which also houses the soon to be installed absolute zero cannon. These weapons while drawing on the internal circuits and workings of Kiryu are further powered by the radioactive energy that has powered Godzilla during its lifetime, and usage of these weapons decrease the battery life of the Mecha.
The most important thing that set Kiryu apart from other mechas was the aforementioned two pilots. Where as pilots are linked to specific parts of a Mecha, those that are chosen to pilot Kiryu have to be linked to the Mecha itself. Both pilots have to move in unison to pilot Kiryu. While one pilot could control a part of Kiryu like its hand independently of another pilot moving another piece of the Mecha, they are at their most effective when in complete sync. The downside is just what Destiny told Shego. The intense training the two pilots undertake make it so one cannot pilot without the other. They also lose the ability to pilot another Mecha in the force because the training makes them beholden to Kiryu and Kiryu only. This is why pilots of Kiryu undergo the rigorous and strenuous training of compatibility. Before Jacob and Destiny there were two other pairs of pilots. This was before compatibility training had become a requirement and these pilots ended up hospitalized due to being unprepared. They suffered either physical stress, or neurological damage to their bodies. This incident happened in the year 2008 a year before Jacob and Destiny became the next pilots.
Jacob sighed as he continued his walk. He passed by other soldiers that greeted him and he returned their greeting. He even stopped to answer a few questions some of the first years had. After a few minutes he found himself standing outside the door to Destiny's room. He reached down to his right side. Attached on his belt was a key. Destiny had given him a spare to her room and he had done the same giving her his spare key. He put the key in the lock and turned it, and when he heard the sound of the locks turning he removed the key and opened the door.
He stepped into Destiny's room to see it was how he left it the day before. He had kept the room clean, made sure her dishes were washed and of course kept an eye on her. He turned to see destiny was facing him, eyes closed and still sleeping soundly. He sighed it's been over a week and she still hadn't woken up. Jacob walked over to her bed and gently stroked her face. She smiled a bit and sighed contently. Jacob was worried the human body can only go so long without eating or drinking and there was no sign of Destiny waking up. He would ask Tiara to come check Destiny out tomorrow just to make sure she was ok.
He pulled up a chair and sat next to Destiny. He ran his hand through his hair as he leaned his head back. In little under two months the secretary of defense would be here with the investors that backed the funding for Kiryu and they would see they didn't have the pilots and immediately shut down the whole project. Billions of dollars would be wasted. Jacob was trying to find someone that he thought would work with Shego but he was drawing a blank. Honestly it wasn't his top priority. He was more worried about the woman laying next to him carrying his unborn child than he was about some Mecha that hasn't seen any action in seven years. As he thought about it he realized he needed to find Shego. It would allow him to better assess the situation. Jacob groaned he didn't want to get back up but as he looked back to Destiny he asked himself what she would do and the answer was almost immediate. He knew she'd get up and put her best foot forward regardless of how she felt about the matter after all that's who she was. She had a strange dedication to her, that when she set something as a goal it was hard to deter her. After all it's how she eventually got past the wall that Jacob had up and that was a slow process that took years.
He smiled as he brushed back some of her ivory hair. He placed a kiss on her cheek and stood back up. "I wish you were awake." He said in a whisper. "Because I'm about to do something crazy." Jacob said as he started walking towards the door. Jacob opened the door and closed it quietly before locking it back.
Destiny sound asleep through the whole time he was there; her smile faded as her face grimaced a bit. Her eyes fluttered as violet orbs tried to peek out from heavy eyelids. "Jac…" She half muttered before her eyelids shut and sleep took her once more.
XX
On the other side of the self defense force sat Bonnie. She sat on her couch in her room staring at a blank TV on her wall. All she could see was Kim's face. The way her red hair blocked Bonnie's view of her face so she couldn't read her expression. The only thing Bonnie could focus on was Kim's lips. They were thin, and tight which was a contrast to how full they usually appeared. Bonnie didn't mean to strike her, she could still feel the impact when she looked at her right hand.
She just wanted the redhead to let her leave. Everything moved in a blur is what Bonnie told herself but she remembers every single second of it. She remembered what led up to where she and Kim almost…
Bonnie shook her head trying to banish the thought. She wondered if she was going crazy. The whole reason she went to Kim's yesterday, the whole reason she dressed like she did is because she needed to know two things. Did Kim like her and did she like the redhead in return and from how Kim seemed to be visually eating her up when she walked in the room from how vulnerable Kim showed herself to be in front of Bonnie led the brunette to believe that Kim did like her or at least found her attractive. Bonnie could hear a little voice in her head telling her that she felt the same about Kim. She did like her, ever since she showed up two months ago all Bonnie did was become consumed with the thought of her. Kim left quite the impression back in 2010. She smiled a bit, maybe it wasn't a bad thing to feel the way she does. Bonnie's smile faded when an intrusive thought entered her mind. She could hear the voice speaking, mocking her. Telling her she didn't actually like Kim, she liked what Kim represented. The life she used to have. That if she had Kim she could possibly have that life again and upon realizing that she could not have the life she so desperately cling to subconsciously, that she would drop Kim and drop her hard.
Bonnie wanted to tell herself that it wasn't true but these were her thoughts. So she knew to a degree this is how she felt. It's why she targeted Kim in the first place the jealousy she knew that lived in her heart when she gazed at Kim. She wanted Kim's life and if she couldn't have it then she subconsciously began to foster desire for the redhead. That way she could live vicariously through Kim.
"That is so fucked up." Bonnie muttered to herself.
Was she that depraved that she was willing to use someone to make herself feel better? Did that mean her feelings were false? Bonnie thought hard about that question because the redheads' feelings were on the line as the tight lipped expression appeared in the back of Bonnie's mind. You have to like something to desire it right? Desire means to have an intense want for something. That something usually being a person or thing you liked. So even if Bonnie wanted even just a slice of Kim's happiness, the fact that she desired the redhead even to have just that meant that she did genuinely like Kim.
However it still didn't change the current situation. Kim wouldn't talk to her. Bonnie has tried two separate times on two different days and Kim would not even reply when she called to her through the door. She messed up royally and didn't know how to go about fixing it. Apologies weren't her forte. Bonnie needed to grab something to eat so maybe she could figure out what to do over a full stomach. She grabbed her phone and began to dial the number to the local pizza place when she heard a knock at the door. She growled, she didn't have time for disturbances.
"Go away." Bonnie said with an irritated tone. Most people knew better than to continue and pester the brunette. Unfortunately the person on the other end of that door didn't seem to get that memo as another knock came pounding to her ears. "I said go away." Bonnie responded.
"Bonnie it's me." A voice said through the door.
Bonnie got up from her couch and quickly moved to the door, unlocking and opening it in one swift motion. There she stood before Kim, the redhead upon seeing the brunette lowering her gaze as she recalled their incident.
"I…didn't think you'd answer the door." Kim said.
Bonnie folded her arms. "It's a lot more than what I got when I came knocking on yours." She said as her hint of annoyance was retained as she spoke.
XX
A knock came at a door catching the attention of a raven haired woman. The woman opened the door revealing herself to be Shego. She craned her eyebrow as Jacob stood in her doorway. He gestured to her symbolizing that he wanted to come in and she rolled her eyes and walked back into her room and he followed behind her closing the door.
"I thought it was someone important." She said as she walked into her kitchen and opened her fridge to grab a bottle of water.
"This is important." Jacob responded.
Shego managed to scoff as she drank the entire bottle of water. She took a breath and tossed the bottle in the garbage. "Did my sister send you?" She asked him.
"I'm here of my own volition. We need to talk." He told her.
"About what?" She asked. "You think that just because you knocked up my sister that means you can start giving me brotherly advice?" She said with a condescending tone. "I have four brothers breathing down my neck. The last thing I need is another one thinking he knows what's best for me." She said waving him off.
Jacob folded his arms as he leaned against the wall "Why haven't you come to see your sister?" He asked.
"Why should I?" She questioned as she shot him a look. "You're keeping an eye on her and if something happened to her you would have said something." She said dismissively.
"She's the only sister you got, Sherron."
"YOU don't get to call me that!" Shego said immediately, cutting Jacob off as she pointed her index finger at him, walking closer. "Only one person can address me by that name and you're not her."
Shego hated being addressed by her first name. The name given to her by her mother and father. They weren't alive anymore to say her name and to her it felt wrong for someone else to say it, so much so that not even her siblings can address her that way. Shego had even admonished top brass when they would say her name. However there was one person that addressed her as Sherron and that person she held the utmost respect for. It took some adjusting too but everyone came to understand Shego's request to not be addressed as Sherron though there was the occasional slip up.
"As for my 'sister'." Shego said, gesturing air quotes when referring to Destiny. "I have no desire to see her, not after what she did."
"She told you the truth." Jacob said, removing himself from the wall. "It's not her fault, you refuse to come up for air and get a dose of reality every now and then."
"It is when she's the one that promised me it would be us." She replied. "You don't get it, she was in my head Jacob." Shego told him as she tapped the side of her head with her index finger. "She told me that we would kill Godzilla, she told me that she would wait for me. We spent years training together even after you became her partner. Knowing that promise she made she could never keep. She lied to me Jacob, strung me along and for what because she didn't think I was grown enough to handle the truth on my own and you want me to forget that?" She asked with a scoff and she shook her head.
Jacob knew this wouldn't be an easy subject. He was well aware of what Shego was getting at. After all Destiny told him that her biggest regret was what she had done to Shego. Filled her head with hatred and revenge, because back then only they wanted revenge against Godzilla. Destiny told him that's what drew her to him initially because when she watched him, listened to him speak, she saw Shego and she saw the damage she had done. She was able to quell the raging fire in Jacob into a manageable flame, but Shego didn't have a raging flame; it was like a radioactive fire and it refused to simmer no matter what Destiny tried. Before Destiny knew it years had passed and she found it harder and harder to tell Shego the truth.
Jacob sighed. "Look, I know what it's like to lose a sibling. I just don't want the last thing between you two to be words of hate." He said as Shego rolled her eyes at his comment. "And don't think you'll be seeing the last of me either." He told her making the pale woman crane her eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, yeah because you're my sister's baby daddy, quit rubbing it in. The less I have to think about what you two do behind closed doors the better." Shego said as she put her index finger in her mouth and stuck out her tongue pretending to gag.
"Well there's that." Jacob started with a sly grin. " However there is also the fact that I'm gonna be overseeing your training since you've been chosen as the next pilot of Kiryu."
Shego just gave him a deadpan expression and gesture with a wave of her hand as if to say is that it?
"I thought you'd be a bit more excited to hear that. Or at least shocked." He said disappointed in her lack of expression towards what he just told her.
"Already heard the news from Betty." Shego responded. "Also I think you missed the part where I was telling you my life is a lie."
"You spoke with Betty? Of course. She's been making things hard for me, took the fun out of breaking the news to you." Jacob said.
"Yeah, welcome to my world." Shego told Jacob. "So to pour salt in the wound I'm going to let you know that I refuse."
"What?" Jacob said as he cleaned out his ears to hear her better. "What are you exactly refusing?"
"To pilot that mecha." Shego said with a shrug. "I've lost interest. Go find someone else."
Jacob's jaw almost hit the ground from her response. She refused, it was her aspiration to pilot Kiryu but now she refused. Jacob's head began to hurt. The stress of everything finally catching up to him from training the recruits, to trying to find Shego a compatible partner, to now hearing her say she wanted nothing to do with this project. Jacob didn't even want the responsibility of dealing with this so to say he was irritated was a complete understatement.
He took a deep breath as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He held up his hand almost mirroring Shego's gestures during the announcement of her pregnancy. "So let me get this straight. So because you can't pilot with Destiny you're going to pout and throw a tantrum?"
"I wouldn't call it pouting but whatever floats your boat." Shego told him. "Find another guinea pig."
"Shego if you won't do it for the force, then do it for your sister, for your family and those that matter. For your unborn niece or nephew."
Shego shook her head with a slight laugh. "You're really trying to pull out all the stops aren't you lieutenant?" She asked. "Let me repeat myself in case I wasn't clear. I'm not doing it." She said, poking him in the chest. "Fuck Destiny." Came her next words as she walked past Jacob. She turned to see the comment had not sat well with Jacob as he scowled at her. Shego smirked. "I said what I said, or did you not hear me? Fuck Destiny." Shego repeated watching the anger rise within Jacob. "And fuck…"
Jacob had heard enough and reached out to strike Shego for her words of slander. Shego was quick to knock his hand away and lashed out with a strike of her own, her right hand curled into a fist. To her surprise Jacob deflected her strike as he also side stepped her. She spun around attempting another strike that Jacob blocked. He knocked her hand back and Shego went for a kick and Jacob grabbed her leg. He thrust his hand forward, hitting her chest and knocking her back into a wall. She gasped as she impacted the wall more so out of surprise than pain.
Jacob closed the gap as his left hand landed to Shego's right. He had her pinned to the wall. "Attacking a commanding officer now? Are you trying to get discharged?" He asked her.
"When did you get this fast?" She asked.
"You're not the only one who sparred with Destiny. We went through compatibility training, so my reflexes are as fast as hers." Jacob told her. "Now I haven't asked you for one thing since you came here. I gave you advice when you needed it and I've looked out for you as well but after the shit you just pulled especially last week I think you owe me. Don't make me pull rank Shego."
Shego observed the man before her and could see the seriousness in his eyes. "FYI, I was going to say fuck you for trying to manipulate me, but fine I'll fly the damn thing. Now can you get off me. I don't think Destiny wouldn't like how close in proximity we are." She said with a sly smirk.
Jacob backed away putting distance between Shego and himself. Shego pushed herself off the wall and moved to take a seat turning attention back to Jacob.
"I still say you're wasting your time. The only person that I consider compatible with me is leaving soon." She told him.
Jacob gave her a sly grin. "Not if I have anything to say about it." He told her.
Shego was confused what plan did Jacob have? "Betty said there was nothing we could do. She says it goes over our heads."
Jacob just continued to smile and as if on queue his phone began to ring. He held up his index finger as he pulled it from his pocket and smiled upon seeing the caller ID. "Yeah Ron." He said answering the phone.
Ron? What could he have to do with keeping Kim here at the force? She knew he was the redhead's best friend but they needed someone with rank at this point. Someone with enough pull to override Dr Possible's decision, but considering the circumstances and risks involved that seemed highly unlikely.
"Yeah I'm in route now. Just make sure you have everything ready." He said hanging up the phone and placing it back in his pocket. He looked up to see Shego giving him a puzzling stare. "If you'll excuse me I have one more stop to make."
Shego watched as he left her room, closing the door behind him. She sighed before getting up to follow after him.
XX
"Leaving?" Bonnie said as she stared at the redhead in her doorway.
Kim nodded. "I wanted to say goodbye to you, before I left." Kim told the brunette. "And to tell you no hard feelings." Kim said her Olive eyes fixated on Bonnie's teal eyes. It didn't take Bonnie long to realize what Kim was getting at and her features softened.
"Look Possible…Kim." Bonnie said, correcting herself by addressing the redhead by her first name. "That was an accident. I was just overwhelmed with everything I needed time to process." Bonnie told her to which Kim nodded showing she understood. There was a pause as Kim looked at Bonnie and the brunette guessed she was hoping Bonnie had the time to process since then. "I…still need time to process." Bonnie said more as an excuse to avoid the subject.
Kim nodded again but Bonnie took note of the dejected expression the redhead held. Bonnie knew this wasn't the conversation Kim wanted to have. Bonnie knew Kim wanted to talk, to have a meaningful conversation where the brunette was deflecting her at every turn. Bonnie wasn't ready for that, she didn't know when she would be. However Kim would be gone whenever she was ready for that talk.
"I'm sorry we couldn't stop you from leaving." Bonnie said, speaking up to break the silence.
Kim shook her head. "No, that's on me. I didn't listen to the plan. I rushed ahead thinking I could force my dad's hand." She told Bonnie. "He was right, I was careless. I wasn't thinking. Plus I think I made Shego mad at me." Kim said half joking hoping to lighten the mood, which seemed to be the case as Bonnie let out a sound that could be identified as a sort of chuckle.
"What are you going to do?" Bonnie said to break the silence that was forming between them again.
"Don't know." Kim said with a simple shrug. "After my injury completely heals I haven't really given it a thought. My mind and body has been this place you know." Kim continued. "Looks like you were right all along." Kim stated making the brunette give her a confused glance.
"Right about what?" Bonnie inquired, wanting to know what Kim's comment meant in regards to her.
"When you said I wasn't cut out for the force." Kim answered, looking down at the floor as she gave her. There was a pause as Kim seemed to hesitate on what she wanted to say next. She looked back up her eyes meeting Bonnie's. "You were right." Kim said, trying to form a smile but Bonnie could see the hurt in her olive orbs.
Bonnie felt something inside her shatter like glass. That's what it had to be, glass, because that's the sound Bonnie could have sworn she heard when Kim said that to her. Bonnie could feel her chest tighten as she looked at Kim. She felt responsible for what the redhead just told her. How many times has she made sure to remind Kim that the force wasn't her home? How many times has she told the redhead she didn't belong? Didn't have the mental or physical fortitude to survive here? More than she could count. In the two months Kim had been here Bonnie had spat more venom than a Western Taipan. She mentally kicked herself for it.
Kim watched as Bonnie lowered her eyes, the brunette not being able to look Kim in her eyes after she made that comment.
"Bonnie, it's fine. I know now that's not what you meant when you were being hard on me." Kim said. "You said you saw yourself in me, that I lived the life you wanted. So I'm guessing you said those things to me because you secretly cared."
Even though Bonnie wasn't looking at her she couldn't believe those last few words. Was Kim trying to make her feel better though she was the one whose dreams were being crushed? Surely Kim knows that last sentence was a lie. Bonnie was being an absolute monster to her. She was trying to demoralize her at every turn in the beginning. Bonnie could hear her internal voice screaming at her. Telling her to tell Kim the truth. Tell her that she did belong, that she was wrong when she said those words but all Bonnie could do was tighten her lips. They grew thinner as she tightened them more, mirroring the way Kim looked when Bonnie raised her hand to the redhead.
Bonnie felt Kim's arms embrace her as the redhead wrapped her up in a hug. The hug was strong and secure and loving. That's what Bonnie felt. However Bonnie was stiff in Kim's embrace and she didn't know why. Maybe she figured she didn't deserve the redhead's embrace. Especially after how she treated her recently. Next thing she knew Kim broke their embrace and stepped back some.
"Thank you for making my last days here enjoyable." Kim told her. "That actually meant alot to me and if you're ever in Colorado, don't be a stranger." Kim told Bonnie with a bright smile.
Bonnie watched as Kim walked away down the hall. Her voice screaming at her internally to go after her, but her voice of doubt telling her not to go after her, that this is her doing. That she's getting what she wanted, the redhead gone. Bonnie's fists clenched as she watched Kim's form disappear around the corner and she felt her heart sink. She couldn't talk to Kim about what almost happened between them, nor could she look the redhead in the eyes and tell her that she deserved to be in the force.
Coward! She said mentally as she walked back into her room.
XX
In the office of the R and D department James possible was getting the last of his things ready. He and Kim would be leaving for Middleton, Colorado in about twenty minutes. They would be flying back on Betty's private plane that she lent out to Destiny and Jacob as she rarely traveled anymore. He would come back Monday as he wanted to spend time with his family. Last time he was home was for Kim's highschool graduation. His youngest children the twins Jim and Tim were sixteen now and it would be good to personally spend some time with his son's. They both took after him when it came to knowledge in robotics and Anne had hoped that Kim would show an interest in the biological field but Kim never did, at least not to interest Anne had hoped. Like his wife, James looked forward to working alongside his son's on special projects they could do together, hopefully outside the force. He placed some papers into a folder and neatly placed them in his bag and zipped the bag shut. The sound of the door closing behind him made James turn and look to see the cause. He was expecting Vivian as the blonde always hoped she could somehow bribe Anne to come back with James to the force every time he visited home.
To his surprise it wasn't Vivian standing before him, but Jacob.
"Jacob, what can I do for you?" James asked as he picked up the bag, placing the strap over his head, with the strap crossing his torso from his left shoulder causing the bag to hang from his right side.
"That's what I'm here to find out, doc." Jacob said as he grabbed a chair for the both of them and sat down in one. "Hoping we can talk and come to an understanding." Jacob said as he patted the chair gesturing for James to have a seat.
James craned his eyebrow as Jacob offered a friendly smile. "If this is about.."
"This is exactly who you think it's about." Jacob said, cutting off James and still maintaining his smile as he patted the chair again, once more requesting him to take his seat.
James sighed as he walked past Jacob. "I have a plane to catch Mr. Matthews, if it's not something important pertaining to Mechagodzilla 3, then we can talk after I come back." James said to him as he approached the door.
The smile from Jacob's face faded, he hoped they could have a friendly chat after he and James always got along well. "You know you're hurting her by doing this." He said to James not turning to face the doctor.
James stopped his hand on the door knob. He thought about that very thought so many times and he knew it was breaking his daughter's heart by making her leave. However deep down he knew he was making the right decision. He knew this choice was the right choice for Kim. He tightened his grip on the door knob and twisted it, the sound of the locking mechanisms clicking for the door to be pushed open. However Jacob spoke again.
"This is her home doc. She'll come back sooner or later. What are you going to do then?" He said.
James turned around quickly, Jacob's words hitting his nerves. He saw that Jacob still wasn't facing him and this seemed to make him even angrier. "How dare you." He said as he approached Jacob. "That girl is my daughter, not yours. What makes you think you're more fit to decide what is right?" He asked.
Jacob just played with his fingers. James could see he had a silver dollar and was motioning it between his fingertips. Flipping the coin between his fingers as he motioned it from his thumb to his pinky and back again.
"Answer me." James said as he spun the chair around to face him. James was tired of meeting protest about this decision at every turn. He could handle opposition amongst the Research department that came with the job but he didn't like that his decision as a parent was being challenged.
Jacob stopped flipping the coin between his fingers, catching it between his index and middle fingers. He looked up to James before speaking. "For starters she's different." He said to James. "She's not like me, or Destiny, or Shego, or even Bonnie for that matter. She's not here for revenge. She's not here for fame and notoriety. She's one of the rare few that's actually here to make a change in the world. She genuinely believes she can do some good for the world and everyone in it."
James sighed. "Look Jacob you're a good man and a damned good soldier so I know you're just doing your job and I'm glad you see potential in my daughter but she's just not cut out for this life."
"We'll never know unless you cut the umbilical James." Jacob countered. "Give her a chance to make something of herself. Out of all the military bases she could have enlisted to, she chose this one and do you know why?"
"It's because of Destiny. She's the reason we get so many recruits among women." James answered with a shrug. Ever since Destiny became the poster child for the force the number of female volunteers tripled though three fourths of the candidates weren't able to become soldiers.
"Nah." Jacob quickly responded. "It's because you're here. She wants her father to be proud of her. To see her become her own person in the world."
James' expression changed to one of thought as she thought about how happy Kim was when she joined. How bright and outgoing she has been since joining. He honestly hasn't seen her this determined since highschool. His facial expression saddened some as he remembered that the last time she was this happy was before the incident she had in highschool. Before someone hurt her and almost caused him to lose his only daughter. Now she was here and she was happy again, her determination and drive had returned and seemed greater than it was before. However once again someone had hurt her and just like before he could have lost her.
"The answer is still no." He said looking Jacob in his eyes. James turned to leave once again, but once again Jacob spoke up.
"You said if it's not about Kiryu then the subject isn't important right?" Jacob asked, repeating James' earlier statement. "Kim is the next candidate to pilot Kiryu." He told him. "She's going to pilot it with Shego."
Jacob's announcement stunned James who held a shocked expression. He slowly turned back to face Jacob. "What…what did you say?" James asked, needing clarification.
"Shego and Kim are going to be trained to pilot Kiryu." Jacob repeated his smirk returning.
"No, no hell no!" James exclaimed. "Have you forgotten what happened to the last pairs that tried to operate Kiryu before you and Destiny? Can't you still hear the screams?" He asked.
Jacob's smirk disappeared. "Every day when I stop by the docking bay to pay my respects to them." Jacob answered.
"Who came up with that asinine proposal?" James wanted to know.
"We all see her potential, James." Jacob replied. "She's the only one that can be matched with Shego. Her grades on the field and academics reflect that."
"And what if Kiryu rejects her huh? What if she ends up with nerve damage, paralyzed or worse?" James asked. "You're not looking at it like I am. You're looking at it like a soldier instead of a father. You're not a father Jacob, so you don't know how I feel."
Jacob's smirk returned. "That's very inconsiderate of you doc." Jacob told him as he leaned back in the chair. "Why do you think Shego and Kim are being considered to pilot Kiryu? It can only mean one thing."
James stroked his chin before the answer hit him and he had a bewildered look on his face. "Something happened to you and Destiny. You two can't pilot anymore."
"Bingo." He said holding up his right hand with the silver dollar. "You see you're wrong about me not looking at this situation like a father." He told James. "Destiny is pregnant."
James was shocked at the news, it would explain why he hadn't seen Destiny this past week. He looked back at Jacob to see him smirking, obviously elated at the prospect that he's going to be a dad.
"As a father of course I'm gonna want to protect my family and I plan to do just that. But my child." He said with a slight pause. "I want my child to be greater than me. To have dreams and aspirations, to know failure and to have that drive that despite failure a goal can be achieved. What I won't do is stand in my child's way. I won't become an obstacle and stagger my child's growth. I want to watch my child grow. Grow and become someone great because I stood next to my child and not in the way." Jacob explained.
"Congratulations on becoming a father Jacob I mean that wholeheartedly. I admire what you want to do as a father but the reality of it is, not everyone has sunshine and rainbows when it comes to parenthood. There are a lot of lows that can come with it." James told him. "Hopefully you never know the fear of almost losing a child."
"I know loss doc." Jacob said, sitting up in his seat. "I've lost a sister, a father, uncle's. I'm no stranger to that pain. You fear losing Kim, but you'll do exactly that when you take her away from here."
"Are you forgetting what's at stake for you?" James asked.
"No I'm not." Jacob said a more serious expression taking over his facial features. "Monster Island was my call. Not Destiny's or Shego's. I convinced Betty to have us go there but it was also my call to bring Kim there. What happened to her is my responsibility so if anybody is to blame it should be me." Jacob told James. "Nobody else needs to lose their hard earned work for a bag that I fumbled."
James looked at Jacob studying him. "You'd risk your career just to keep my daughter here?" To which Jacob nodded showing that he would.
James looked at Jacob seeing the seriousness in his eyes. He tightened the strap around his shoulder. He let out another sigh as he looked up to the ceiling and seemed to be gathering his thoughts. After a few minutes James returned this gaze back to Jacob.
XX
Shego had wandered into the west lobby in search of Jacob. She saw that a lot of the first year soldiers were here and what she noticed is that most of them were Kim's friends and remembered the faces of those who sat at Kim's table during their lunch breaks. Shego looked to her left to see the airfield where all of their planes and helicopters as well as special units were housed. On the tarmac sat Betty's private plane and she could see people moving about it. Shego knew what today was. It was Friday, today is the day Kim leaves the force. So they must be here to say their goodbyes, she thought. It sucked that she failed to keep the redhead from leaving; it was rare when they got an actual interesting recruit.
Shego's attention turned to her right, focusing on a conversation that had just come within earshot. She could see three people walking towards the lobby. Two men and one woman. Shego guessed that two of them were Kim and her father but who was the third person? As they grew closer she made out the features of the third person, it was Jacob. Now that they were approaching the lobby she could hear the conversation a lot better and it was mostly Jacob trying to talk the doctor out of taking Kim home. Shego's gaze shifted to Kim to see the redhead walking head down a bit and apparently lost in thought as she didn't even notice the raven haired woman as they strolled by.
"Leaving without saying goodbye Possible. I'm hurt." Shego called out loudly.
Shego's outburst made the lobby go quiet as everyone's attention turned to where Kim, James and Jacob stood. Kim turned back to see Shego walking up to her, Shego's right hand extended.
"Gonna miss you first year. This place is gonna be a lot more dull without you in it, that's for sure." Shego told Kim.
Kim glanced down to Shego's hand and then back up to Shego. A small smile formed on her face and she extended her hands to Shego's. Kim gripped Shego's hand firmly as she shook it. "Thanks Shego." Kim said. "Tell Destiny I said goodbye." She told the raven haired woman and Shego nodded.
Kim turned back to face the direction she was walking when she noticed the lobby felt a bit more fuller than usual. There were a lot of soldiers here, the majority of them first year like her. She made out the faces of Zita, Brick, Felix and Ron. They were standing in front of the doorway to the runway.
"I appreciate you guys coming to see me before I leave." Kim said to them as she walked up with her father.
"Before you leave?" Brick said doing his best to sound confused but maintaining a smile on his face.
"Who said anything about you leaving?" Zita asked with a smile of her own.
"What's going on?" James wanted to know as some of the other soldiers grew closer to them. James looked back to see Jacob standing next to Shego with a very confident smile on his face.
Betty had just walked into the lobby herself as she planned to see Kim off and bid her a fond farewell and hope for a better future in what field she would choose after this. She was met by the sight of a very busy lobby filled with her soldiers. She could see Destiny and Jacob standing a few feet in front of her and she could see Kim and her father surrounded by her friends and comrades alike.
"Ron what is all this?" Kim asked him. She looked around to see they were surrounded by the other soldiers, all comrades she made in her two months of being in the force.
"I hope you have room for some of us on that plane KP." Ron said with a grin.
"Because if you leave we're leaving too. Isn't that right fellas!" Felix called out and the room erupted into a roar of agreement.
"You guys…" Kim said as her eyes began to tear up. "I can't let you guys do that. Think of how much it would hurt the force." She told them.
"Oh we know." Zita said, answering her as she brushed her black hair back away from her eyes. "But the force is taking a considerable loss by losing you."
"Bonnie told us what was happening a week ago and we've been brainstorming ever since." Felix added in.
"Then Jacob reached out to us after telling us that you will be the next pilot for Kiryu." Ron told her.
Kim's eyes widened at that news. "Me?" She asked, pointing at herself and her friends nodded, showing that she heard correctly. Kim looked back to Jacob and Shego to see them smiling proudly at her.
"You!" James said as he tried to make his way back to Jacob but the amount of soldiers between him and Jacob kept him in place. "This isn't your decision to make!"
Jacob placed his hands over his mouth so he'd be able to be heard over the noise of the crowding soldiers. "You forced my hand, doc! It may not be my decision to make but it isn't yours either! Let Kim decide!"
The crowd of soldiers cheered and it made Kim smile but James wasn't through. "Kim has made her decision. She's come to this choice from her own understanding. This is above your head." He told Jacob. "All of yours." He said as he moved his hand around the crowd of people.
That's right was the thought that floated through Kim's head. Jacob and Destiny, Shego and even Betty could lose everything if she stayed. Her hands clenched onto the bags she held tightly.
"If you leave then we leave!" Brick shouted and the soldiers started cheering.
The room erupted into an uproar and James scowled at Jacob as the Lieutenant smiled back, his expression saying checkmate. Shego watched as the room swelled with the sounds of clapping, feet stomping and cheering as the soldiers that Kim came to call friends or even just comrades began calling her name. Telling her to stay. Shego glanced at Jacob surprised that he could come up with a strategy this good. She was beginning to see why Destiny liked him.
Betty watched and listened. The ultimatum that Jacob presented was like a vice. He was an innovative soldier, it's how he got him and destiny to Lieutenant and why they were being considered for a promotion to the rank of Captain. However Betty knew that not all vices were inescapable and before she offered her piece she wanted to see what the next move was.
Kim was trembling, she wanted to stay but knew she couldn't. Everyone here was on her side. They wanted her here but they didn't understand the gravity of the situation surrounding her. Kim started to hyperventilate and seeing this Ron and the others placed their hands on her wanting to know if she was ok. Brick called for everyone to calm down. They were overwhelming Kim and the room grew quiet but not quickly as the loud cheering turned into dispersed murmurs. Now it was quiet enough to hear the sound of crying. Small whimpers slowly filled everyone's ears and all attention fell to the center of the room to the origin of the sound, to Kim.
The redhead was doing her best to not break down in front of everyone but the weight of her responsibility that she was feeling was getting heavier the longer she stood in the room. She felt the comforting touch of her friends and heard their encouraging words and was slowly gaining her composure back. When she felt like she could mentally stand on her own two feet asked for some room and as everyone took a step back the redhead took a deep breath and exhaled.
"I appreciate this I really do. I didn't know you all cared that deeply about one person. I wanted to come here and make a difference and you all have shown me that I have." Kim spoke as she looked at her friends. "As much as I want to stay and God knows that I do, I can't. There is a lot more to me leaving than any of you know or can understand and I wish I could talk to you about it, but please just understand that this, what you did for me." Kim said, extending her arms to Ron and the others. "What you all did here means a lot to me. It truly does, but I've made my decision and I have to leave." She announced.
James smiled hearing his daughter speak some sense after all the nonsense and carrying on everyone was causing. He patted Kim on the back and when she looked at him, he gave her a reassuring nod letting her know she did well. Jacob scratched his head, he thought that would move Kim enough to influence her to make her own choice but her words proved otherwise. He looked over to see Shego focused on the crowd and was hoping to get a hint of what he could do next. Kim mentioned something she couldn't talk about. He spun around to gather his thoughts quickly and noticed Dr Director as she too was focused on Kim and the crowd but as he finished doing his one hundred and eighty degree turn he saw someone else standing above on the balcony that overlooked the lobby. He was surprised to see her here, she was the last person Jacob would have suspected to see at this rally. Then something in Jacob's mind clicked and he spun back and around speaking up.
"Kim if you're worried about me and the others don't be!" He called out. "We'll be fine, trust me. If Destiny was here she'd say the same and if you have any doubts then just ask Bonnie!" Jacob called out.
Kim flinched at the mention of the brunette's name which didn't go unnoticed by her father and friends. However the crowd turned their attention to Jacob and they indeed saw Bonnie standing up on the balcony. She had been drawn in by the noise,her room not far from the west lobby. The crowd began to talk amongst themselves and Kim heard them confirm that Bonnie was indeed there. They were surprised to see her, she was Kim's biggest opposition so far as they knew so was she here to see Kim off or here to make sure Kim understood she didn't belong?
Bonnie said nothing from her view above. She watched as Kim kept her back to the brunette, Jacob and Shego. Should she say something? Would it matter if she did? She needed some sign from Kim. A sign that the redhead wanted her to say something. However Kim just stayed there, Kim wanted to hear Bonnie say something. Ever since she came here, Bonnie told her she didn't belong and if she felt different then now would be the time to say it. Both women stood silent and still in their positions in the room.
"Kim, if Bonnie is here, that should say something right?" He asked. "The choice is yours, we just want to hear you say it. Not what you heard from your dad or anyone else, just you."
James looked over to Kim. Her head was down but he could tell that Jacob's words had reached her. He glanced around the room and saw Dr Director was present for this as well and he mentally sighed. As far as he was concerned as her father he would get the last say.
"It's clear to me how much my daughter means to you all." James said, speaking up, making Kim glance this way as all eyes fell on him. "You're right it is her decision about whether she wants to stay or not. She's an adult and should be respected as such." He said seeing people in the room nod and agree with him.
"However what Kim needs to know is that every choice has a consequence. So Kim can choose and if she chooses to go home you all must live with that. However, if she chooses to stay." He paused as his eyes met with Betty's. "Then I will resign from the R and D department."
His announcement made Betty push off the wall she was leaned against. Both her and Kim having the same reaction to James' announcement.
"What?" Both women said even though they were on different sides of the room.
"You can't just resign, not when Kiryu is so close to completion. You're the only one who can make sure the absolute zero cannon is installed properly." She said speaking up catching everyone's attention. "Without you and that weapon, Kiryu will be shut down. America will be defenseless against the greater Kaiju threats!" She exclaimed.
"I stand by my statement." He said, folding his arms. "If you all want to keep my daughter here in harm's way then I don't want to be around if something worse than a second degree burn happens to her."
"That's not fair!" Brick shouted.
"Yeah, we stand by our promise as well. She leaves then we leave!" Zita said starting to rile up the first year soldiers again.
However Betty quickly dispelled the uproar. "That is enough!" Betty said. "Now I'll admit it is a moving gesture by you all but I will not permit such foolishness from my soldiers. Whether Kim stays or leaves is her decision but I will not permit any of you to walk out with her as well. If you persist with this insubordination, know that you all will be dishonorably discharged. On the grounds of insurrection from the misuse of authority from a commanding officer." Betty said, looking at Jacob. "You will not be able to return here nor apply with any other branch of the United States Army."
The room fell quiet. No one foresaw this outcome and Jacob gritted his teeth as his attention went from Betty to James who was still at the center of everything with Kim. This time it was James' turn to smirk confidently offering the checkmate with his smile. Everyone's eyes fell to Kim as her back was still to the rest of the room. Kim couldn't allow her dad to leave even if she wanted to stay. Dr Director had a point. America needed Kiryu to defend the innocents from Kaiju. That meant America needed her dad, more than America needed her. She took a deep breath.
"Dad." She said, gaining his attention. "I'm ready to go."
A collective gasp escaped the crowd and once more they began to murmur and talk amongst themselves.
"KP." Ron said as he stood in her way. "Don't do this." He pleaded with her. He came here because of her, she can't just leave him there. Can she?
"I'm sorry Ron, but my mind is made up." She said not being able to look him or any of her friends in the eyes. "I don't want to make this any harder than it already has to be…"
James ushered for her to move forward towards the runway. Kim walked forward and Ron and the others gave them room to pass. Watching as Kim exited the building and walked towards the plane that waited on the tarmac. Up above from her position Bonnie sat dismayed. She should have said something, but what could she say? What would she have said? Her father's words seem to have the most impact. Bonnie noted it was pretty underhanded but she figured Kim realized how important he was to the force. Which meant his need to be here outweighed hers and that upset Bonnie. She pushed herself off the balcony before her grip broke the banister or that's how tense she felt. She turned to walk away back to her room.
The room began to disperse as everyone filed out of the lobby across the room Zita and the others were comforting Ron as he watched his best friend leave. Shego sighed as she sucked her teeth. She placed her hand on Jacob's shoulder. "For what it's worth, that was one hell of a plan Matthews." She said before she turned to leave as well.
Jacob mentally cursed at James. That was an asshole move to pull. He forced Kim's hand. He looked over to see Dr Director staring at him as the other soldiers walked between them. He made his way to her in a hurry.
"The hell was that?" He asked her.
"I can ask you the same thing." Betty countered.
"You just cost us the second pilot that you so desperately need." Jacob said, breathing heavy.
"So what I was just supposed to let our best and brightest mind walk out on us?" She asked Jacob.
"Vivian can't learn into install a fucking cannon?" Jacob countered with a question of his own.
"We both know it's not just a simple cannon Jacob." She replied. "He came up with design and drafts and its format is something only someone of James caliber can understand. It's why we reached out to him in the first place."
Jacob growled his frustration at its peak. "Now what?" He asked.
"We keep looking. There are others." Betty said as if it was obvious.
"Not like that one. I'm not gonna waste my time beating a dead horse. You find the candidates." He said pointing at her, before turning to walk away.
"Lieutenant Matthews." Betty called after him but he kept walking away. She was about to follow after him but she was pulled aside by one of her staff as they whispered something into her ear. She nodded and gave Jacob one last glance before she walked off to her office.
XX
Betty walked into her office and sat at her desk. Her computer screen coming to life with a push of a button. She began typing away as she accessed her emails and there she saw a message from someone calling themselves Ka!juF!L3R. Betty however knew this was Kim and Ron's friend Wade Load. A young man with a genius to rival those of the R and D department. After all, he has a Kaiju detection system in place that lets him know when a threat is going to reach their shores. While he hasn't been forthcoming with his own technology that he and to some degree Kim used he at least was willing to assist the self defense force with a project of their own.
She opened the email and it contained a message saying you're going to want to watch this. It was pertaining to a file Wade had come across during the W.E.E. incident and he had found a file labeled resurrection. It was heavily encrypted and Wade had been working around the clock to get any information from it that he could and it seemed that he bore some fruit from his endeavors. Betty clicked on the attachment and a separate window popped up on her screen. She clicked the play button, starting the video.
The video showed two people, both men in a room standing in front of a platform. The platform had doors on it and the doors slid open releasing steam as something rose from beneath and to the surface to the two men. Steam was thick and obscured all but a large metal clawed hand. The video didn't play any sound so Betty couldn't make out any voices as the smoke filled the room and obscured the view completely. She played the video back and studied what she could from it. What was it that she needed to see? Was it the large metallic hand? Was W.E.E. constructing their own Mecha?
She couldn't think it possible as they rounded up the best minds the country had to offer with the exception of one. Betty zoomed in closer on the men in an earlier part of the video she could see that the man on the right was shorter than the other man and was wearing what looked like a black helmet and was dressed in red attire with black pants and shoes. However the man next to him was dressed in a long blue lab coat that extended to his shins that were covered in black boots. He also had blue pants underneath the lab coat. He had black hair tied into what Betty could only describe as a miniature mullet. As the video played and the smoke began to fill the screen the man in blue turned to face the other one, apparently laughing. Betty's expression changed her eye wide.
"It can't be." She whispered. She rewound the footage a bit and paused it as she zoomed in a bit more. She couldn't believe who she was seeing his appearance was slightly different with him apparently having blue skin and the scar under his eye was new. This man has been missing since 2005 around shortly after they had approached James Possible about joining the force, he was presumed dead. "Drew Lipsky." Betty muttered as she stared at the screen.
That's where we end it with the reveal of one of two mysterious figures or maybe not so mysterious but what could this spell for the GJSDF? You're gonna have to stay tuned to the story to find out. As always a review will be greatly appreciated and I'll be seeing you all in the next one, take care!
Tracklist
Jacob checks on Destiny - Message From Infant Island - Godzilla Final Wars
Jacob and Shego - Secretary General Daigo's Accident - Godzilla Final Wars
Bonnie and Kim - For Andrew - Godzilla King of The Monsters
Jacob and Dr Possible - To Q Zone - Godzilla 2014
Jacob's Plan to Stop Kim - Little Was Alive - Godzilla vs Destoroyah
Betty Reviews The Footage - Doctor Otonashi - Godzilla Final Wars
